2010-09-17_INSPECTION - C1981019

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August 24, 2010 C-1981-019/Colowyo Coal Mine JR? contained in the Annual Reclamation Report. It was indicated in the field that it was Colowyo's desire to keep the shrub plots and the fencing around the plots. If Colowyo does want to keep the shrub plots they will need to obtain a letter from the landowner stating their desire to keep the shrub plots and fencing. Colowyo will need to provide the Division with a minor revision to the permit making the shrub plots and fencing a permanent, post- mining feature. There were also several of the fences that were in a state of disrepair. Colowyo will need to repair these fences. - In addition to the shrub exclosure fences discussed above, there are several locations in the Phase III Bond Release area that have snow fence in place (including by shrub plot J and topsoil stockpile 15G). Some of this snow fence is in a state of disrepair and other snow fence does not appear to be located where it will be of any use. As with the shrub exclosure fencing, if Colowyo would like to keep the snow fence they will need to obtain a letter from the landowner stating their desire to keep the snow fences. Colowyo will need to provide the Division with a minor revision to the permit making the snow fences a permanent, post-mining feature. There were also several of the fences that were in a state of disrepair. Colowyo will need to repair these fences. - Throughout the Phase II and III Bond Release areas there were small patches of thistle, including Canadian Thistle. It appears as though some of the thistle areas have been sprayed, while other areas appear to be newer growth. These thistle patches are generally very limited in size and do not appear extensive or a problem. Continued treatment of these areas will be necessary. Additionally, the Division has noted several of these thistle patches, as shown on Inspection Map 13, which will need to be sprayed before the Division can propose a decision on the Phase 11 and III Bond Release applications. - There is a remaining topsoil stockpile in reclamation block EP015 (topsoil stockpile 1 5G). The stockpile can be seen on Colowyo Map 28 - Topsoil Handling. This topsoil will be used for future reclamation and the Division will be excluding the topsoil stockpile and a haul corridor from the Phase III Bond Release application SL-05. The exclusion area can be seen on Inspection Map 14 and encompasses approximately 9.3 acres. TOPSOIL - Rule 4.06 Removal 4.06.2; Substitute Materials 4.06.4(4); Storage and Protection 4.06.3; Redistribution 4.06.4: - As noted in "Revegetation/Reclamation Success" above, Colowyo has applied for Phase II Bond Release for 365.89 acres in the East Pit, 49.44 acres in the West Pit and 17.37 acres in the Section 16 Pit. One of the items included in a Phase II Bond Release is the replacement of topsoil to the required depth. During the 15 June 2010 inspection the Division dug five topsoil test holes in the East Pit Phase IJ area (EP-TS-01 through EP-TS-05). During the Division's 19 July 2010 inspection an additional 12 topsoil test holes in the East Pit Phase 11 area (EP- TS-06 through EP-TS-17) as well as 5 topsoil test holes in the Section 16 Pit Phase II area (16-TS-01 through 16- TS-05) and 12 topsoil test holes in the West Pit Phase H area (WP-TS-01 through WP-TS-13 - topsoil test hole WP-TS-02 was determined to be outside the Phase II Bond Release area). The locations of these topsoil test holes can be found on Inspection Maps 9-12. The required (average) topsoil replacement depth for all of the Phase II reclamation blocks is 18 inches (Permit Volume 1, page 2.05-28). The average topsoil replacement depth for the 17 East Pit topsoil test holes was 17.1 inches. The average topsoil replacement depth for the 12 West Pit topsoil test holes was 16.9 inches. The average topsoil replacement depth for the 5 Section 16 Pit topsoil test holes was 17.9 inches. While the East Pit and West Pit topsoil replacement depth averages were approximately one inch below the required depth of 18 inches, the Division believes that this is still acceptable. Following topsoil Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 3 Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 0 Page 13 of 39